User and device interactions for web consolidation

ABSTRACT

A method includes determining, by a processor within a peripheral device, that an amount of a consumable associated with the peripheral device has decreased below a predetermined threshold and transmitting an email from the peripheral device to order additional supplies of the consumable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0001] Contained herein is material, including material incorporated byreference, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright ownerdoes not object to the electronic, facsimile or electrophotographicreproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwisereserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to printers and other hard copy outputengines. More particularly, the invention relates to hard copy outputengine consumable supply management and related methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] As computer systems and data communications systems havedeveloped, the number and variety of hard copy output engines employedin a typical office or factory setting has grown. Examples include photocopiers, facsimile machines, printers and devices including more thanone of these capabilities. In turn, this has led to a need to be able toorder greater number of consumable supplies, some of which are specificto specific types of hard copy output engines.

[0004] As need for these types of hard copy output engines has grown, anumber of different manufacturers have developed different hard copyoutput engines providing different operational characteristics andcapabilities. While some consumable commodities associated with thesedevices are common to most or all such devices (e.g., standardized papersizes), other consumable commodities, such as toners and toner supplycartridges or ink reservoirs, tend to be unique to a specificmanufacturer. Additionally, different hard copy output engines may havedifferent paper capacities, capabilities for accepting more or fewerpaper sizes and different toner or other pigment supply requirements andcapacities.

[0005] It is generally helpful to have a mechanism for keeping track ofusage of consumable commodities in keeping computer systems functional,and to determine when periodic or aperiodic maintenance is desirable.For example, it is extremely helpful to ensure that adequate supplies ofreplacement print media and pigmentation or marker material areavailable when needed.

[0006] Coordination of orders for supplies can be very helpful to avoidover- or under-stocking of these consumable commodities, while stillachieving the benefits of economies of scale by pooling orders toservice multiple hard copy output engines, especially those using atleast some of the same consumable commodities. However, in many businesssettings, the sheer number of diverse hard copy output engines beingused in different aspects or divisions of the business may lead toconfusion in maintaining adequate supplies of these consumablecommodities.

[0007] What is needed is a way to facilitate provision of data providinga communications link to suppliers of consumable commodities, as well asdata describing consumable commodity status, for a network including oneor more hard copy output engines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a methodincludes determining, by a processor within a peripheral device, that anamount of a consumable associated with the peripheral device hasdecreased below a predetermined threshold and transmitting an email fromthe peripheral device to order additional supplies of the consumable.

[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, anarticle of manufacture includes a computer usable medium having computerreadable code embodied therein that is configured to cause a processorcontained in a peripheral device to (i) determine that an amount of aconsumable associated with the peripheral device has decreased below apredetermined threshold and (ii) transmit an email from the peripheraldevice to order additional supplies of the consumable.

[0010] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, acomputer implemented control system for a hard copy output engineincludes a memory configured to store a software module and processingcircuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to employ the softwaremodule to determine that an amount of a consumable associated with aperipheral device has decreased below a predetermined threshold andtransmit an email from the peripheral device to order additionalsupplies of the consumable.

[0011] Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of thefollowing detailed description, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer networkincluding a computer, a hard copy output engine and a firewall, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a simplified flow chart of a process P1 illustrating howa system can interact with a vendor website across the firewall of FIG.1 to enable a peripheral device, such as the hard copy output engine, toexchange information with a vendor website via an embedded web server,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating steps in carrying out aprocess P2 for configuring devices discovered in the process P1 of FIG.2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps in carrying out aprocess P3 for setting preferences for resellers and for identifyingpurchasers for consumables and service for devices discovered in theprocess P1 of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a simplified flow chart of a process P4 for settinginventory parameters for the group or groups of peripheral devicesidentified in the process P1 of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a simplified flowchart of a process P5 for configuring aperipheral device, such as a hard copy output engine, using informationcollected via the processes of FIGS. 2 through 5, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network 10including a computer 12 and a hard copy output engine 14, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The computer 12 is coupledto the hard copy output engine 14 via a bus 16 allowing either thecomputer 12 or the hard copy output engine 14 to initiate datacommunications with the other. In one embodiment, the hard copy outputengine 14 is a device such as a printer, copier, facsimile machine or amultifunction device capable of providing two or more such functions. Itwill be appreciated that while FIG. 1 illustrates only a single computer12 and a single peripheral device 14 for ease of illustration andconvenience in understanding, multiple computers 12 and peripheraldevices 14 may all be coupled to the bus 16.

[0019] In one embodiment, the system 10 is coupled to an externalinterconnection 17 via a data path 18. In one embodiment, the data path18 includes an intranet. In one embodiment, the data path 18 includes alocal area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). In one embodiment,the data path 18 includes access to the Internet via a firewall 19.

[0020] Security is a constant challenge for networks and computingengineers responsible for networks, and is discussed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,410 B1, entitled “Methods AndStructures For Robust, Reliable file Exchange Between Secured Systems”,issued to Miller et al. and which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. In particular, and as discussed in the afore-noted patent, itis important in wide area network applications for computing systemsattached to such a network to secure their resources from inappropriate,unauthorized access. The Internet is an example of a global wide areanetwork where security measures are often critical to an ongoingbusiness enterprise connected to the Internet. Such security measuresare required to assure that unauthorized third parties, anywhere in theworld, cannot gain access to sensitive materials within the enterprisevia the global, publicly accessible, Internet.

[0021] Though such security measures or firewalls 19 are vital to secureeach particular enterprise, their very existence creates the burden forthose trying to legitimately exchange information between enterprisesvia such global, public networks. A user in one particular computingenterprise encounters a number of difficulties exchanging data withanother user in a different computing enterprise via computer system tocomputer system network communication links. Though the communicationcapability may exist, for example via the Internet, safeguards andsecurity measures (firewalls 19) within each enterprise makes suchenterprise-to-enterprise exchanges difficult—exactly as they areintended to do.

[0022] In general, such firewall 19 security measures operate at lowerlayers of the network communication layered model to filter outpotentially harmful network data exchange. For example, the firewall 19may permit certain protocols to be exchanged only among certain networkdevices known to be physically secured within the enterprise. Networkdevices not within the permitted scope of secured devices are notpermitted to use the filtered protocols. Should such un-authorizeddevices attempt such communications, the firewall 19 simply discardstheir network data transfer requests. As a result, a vendor may not beable to initiate data communications between a database maintained bythe vendor and devices that have been deployed at clients of that vendoror allied vendors.

[0023] In one embodiment, the computer 12 and the hard copy outputengine 14 are capable of exchanging data via a protocol compatible withpresence of other computers 12 or hard copy output engines 14 on the bus16. In one embodiment, the computer 12 and the hard copy output engine14 employ an object-oriented request-reply protocol supportingasynchronous printer query, control and monitor capabilities, and thatis capable of documenting the requests, replies and data types supportedby the protocol. In one embodiment, a protocol known as PML is used.

[0024] The term “PML” refers to Printer Management Language, which hasbeen developed by the Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif.Further description of PML can be found at http://www.hp.com or athttp://www.hpdevelopersolutions.com, by entering a user name, a userselected password, and by joining a solutions provider program. Moreparticularly, a PML Protocol Specification, Hewlett-Packard Company,Nov. 18, 1998, Revision 2.3 is available therein, and is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

[0025] One exemplary remote query language implemented within thenetwork system is a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). In suchan exemplary configuration, host devices such as personal computers 12include respective processing circuitry (not shown) operable toformulate an appropriate SNMP query or request which is addressed to oneor more appropriate computer peripheral devices using a communicationmedium. The appropriate computer peripheral device(s) receive the queryor request and provide information back to appropriate host devices orcomputers 12 using the communication medium. Protocols other than SNMPare utilized in other embodiments to implement communications within thesystem.

[0026] PML permits many applications to exchange device managementinformation with numerous computer peripheral devices, such as imageforming devices. Individual computer peripheral devices implement anyconversion operations between the protocol used to exchange informationwith respect to computer peripheral devices (e.g., SNMP) and theinternal protocol (e.g., PML) used within the respective computerperipheral devices.

[0027] In one embodiment, the data path 18 provides common gatewayinterface (CGI) data communication capability. In one embodiment, thedata path 18 includes an email capability (e.g., simple mail transferprotocol or SMTP) for facilitating data communication. In oneembodiment, the data path 18 includes a secure data path using HTTP(hyper text transfer protocol) with SSL (secure sockets layer), as isdescribed in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,390, entitled “SecureSocket Layer Application Program Apparatus And Method”, issued toElgamal et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,900, entitled “Secure IntranetAccess”, issued to Subramanian et al., which patents are herebyincorporated herein by reference for their teachings.

[0028] The hard copy output engine 14 includes a controller 20, such asa conventional microprocessor or microcontroller. The hard copy outputengine 14 also includes one or more sensors 22 coupled to the controller20 and a memory 24 in data communication with the controller 20. In oneembodiment, the memory 24 comprises conventional volatile andnon-volatile memory units. In one embodiment, the memory 24 includesmagnetic, magneto-optic or optical storage media, such as conventionaldisc storage or floppy disc data storage units, or memory integratedcircuits or CD-ROMs or the like. In one embodiment, the hard copy outputengine 14 accepts instructions as a computer instruction signal embodiedin a carrier wave carrying instructions executable by the controller 20.

[0029] The sensors 22 are coupled to consumable commodities associatedwith the hard copy output engine 14. In one embodiment, when the sensors22 report that a quantity of a consumable commodity (e.g., print media,paper, toner or ink) associated with the hard copy output engine 14 hasdecreased to below a predetermined threshold amount, or that malfunctionof a dispenser of a consumable commodity exists, the controller 20initiates a data communication ultimately intended for transmission viathe data path 18. Additionally, the sensors 22 may track data such asnumber of sheets of media that have been printed, in order to schedulemaintenance operations.

[0030] The controller 20 and the memory 24 also comprise an embedded webserver 26. Embedded web server 26 refers to a web server that iscompletely contained within a device, such as a computer peripheraldevice. Embedded web servers 26 are configured to provide managementinformation about the peripheral device. An embedded web server 26 canbe used to manage or manipulate individual peripheral devices, such asthe hard copy output engine 14, that are present in the network 10. Aweb browser can be used by a network user to access an embedded webserver 26 in order to obtain device status updates, performtroubleshooting operations, change device configuration settings and tolink to online customer support.

[0031] The term “web browser” refers to an application that runs on aworkstation or personal computer 12 within the network environment 10,that lets users view HTML documents via the Internet, to accesshyperlinks and to transfer files. In operation, web browsers requestinformation from web servers and display the information that the webservers send back. The information is organized into pages containingtext, graphics, sound and animation formatted by HTML and Java® applets.

[0032] The term “web server” refers to a specialized program running ona server that supports TCP/IP protocol. Web servers enable workstationsor personal computers 12 or other devices in the network 10 to accessexternal networks such as the Internet. Web servers receive HTTPrequests that browsers running on various types of computer systemssend. The web server could be asked to get a text or graphics file,retrieve a ZIP file or run a program. The web server then sends theinformation, files or program results back to the requesting browser.Embedded web servers 26 are contained within the hard copy output engine14 itself to provide management information about the hard copy outputengine 14.

[0033]FIG. 2 is a simplified flow chart of a process P1 illustrating howa system can interact with a vendor website across the firewall 19 ofFIG. 1 to enable a peripheral device, such as the hard copy outputengine 14, to exchange information with the vendor website via theembedded web server 26, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0034] Initially, it is desirable to provide the vendor site with a listof system components, such as peripheral devices, associated with thatvendor. This process is called “device discovery”. Device discoveryneeds to take place at least once for each device that is to besupported via the vendor website.

[0035] The process P1 is initiated when the MIS manager browses thevendor website in a step S11.

[0036] In a step S12, the MIS manager downloads a device discovery plugin via the web browser contained in the MIS manager's computer 12.

[0037] In a step S13, the device discovery plug in engages in devicediscovery, that is, inventories peripheral devices that are coupled tothe bus 16 that are also associated with that vendor. In one embodiment,the device discovery plug in includes information entered by the MISmanager regarding peripheral devices that the MIS manager knows havebeen added to the system or that have been modified.

[0038] In one embodiment, the device discovery plug in acts as a proxyfor the vendor web site within the network 10 to poll and identifyperipheral devices and their addresses in the network 10 that areassociated with that vendor. In one embodiment, peripheral devices areidentified via serial numbers. In one embodiment, the device discoveryplug in determines make and model number, as well as options, for eachperipheral device associated with that vendor.

[0039] In a step S14, the discovered device information is stored forreference. In one embodiment, the device information is stored in memoryassociated with the vendor website.

[0040] In a step S15, the device information is sorted into suitablegroups. For example, peripheral devices may be grouped according tointernal business structures associated with the network 10, e.g.,research and development, accounting etc. that may also correspond tospecific areas within a facility.

[0041] In a step S16, group names are stored for reference. In oneembodiment, the group names and data relevant to the individual devicesare stored in a memory associated with the vendor web site.

[0042] In a step S17, a purchase authorizer is identified for each ofthe groups determined in the step S15. The purchase authorizer isresponsible for authorizing purchases of consumables associated with theperipheral devices and for authorizing periodic and aperiodicmaintenance. Additionally, the vendor may provide information to thepurchase authorizer regarding product upgrades or accessories as thesebecome available.

[0043] In a step S18, maintainers are identified for the groupsidentified in the step S15. In one embodiment, email addresses formaintainers are collated with the groups identified in the step S16. Inone embodiment, the email addresses are stored with the groups in amemory associated with the vendor web site.

[0044] The process P1 then ends. The process P1 provides a way for avendor website to obtain information from a private network 10 acrossthe firewall 19 without compromise of the security of the privatenetwork 10. The process P1 also does not require any added hardware forthe network 10.

[0045]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating steps in carrying out aprocess P2 for configuring the devices that were discovered in theprocess P1 of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The process P2 begins in a step S21.

[0046] Optionally, the process P2 may be initiated by the vendor website sending an email to the maintainer in the step S21 using the emailaddress obtained in the step S18 of the process P1 of FIG. 2. The emailmay include information specific to the group of devices identified asbeing associated with that maintainer in the step S18 of the process P1.

[0047] Alternatively, the process P2 may be initiated by the maintainerof the peripheral devices. In either case, the maintainer launches a webbrowser to interact with the vendor web site in a step S22. In oneembodiment, the maintainer launches the web browser using a URLcontained in the email message received by the maintainer in the stepS21. In one embodiment, the URL is specific to the list of peripheraldevices associated with the maintainer.

[0048] In a step S23, the maintainer browses the vendor web site toconfigure a portion of the vendor web site. In one embodiment, themaintainer sets maintenance notification thresholds. For example, sometypes of maintenance may be set to take place after a predeterminednumber of sheets of media have been printed, or following apredetermined number of hours of operation, or may be based on otheroperation-dependent or seasonal criteria.

[0049] In a step S24, the maintainer sets thresholds for replenishmentof consumables. In one embodiment, these are set via interaction withthe vendor web site.

[0050] In a step S25, the vendor web site collates the thresholds set bythe maintainer and sends back an electronic message includingconfiguration data to be used by the embedded web server 26 in theperipheral device. In one embodiment, an email including a hotlinkhaving an attached CGI script or an XML list is sent from the vendor website to the maintainer. A hotlink is an Internet address, usually in theform of a URL (universal resource locator) that can be readilyactivated, for example by selecting it with a mouse or other tactileinput device, to access the web site at that Internet address.

[0051] In a step S26, the maintainer then uses this electroniccommunication to set the thresholds in the peripheral device via theembedded web server 26.

[0052] In one embodiment, the vendor web site provides a hot link at thevendor web site that, when activated by the maintainer, performssubstantially the equivalent of the steps S25 and S26.

[0053] In one embodiment, the vendor web site may send an email directlyto the embedded web server with the configuration data in the step S25.The embedded web server 26 then uses this electronic communication toset the thresholds in the peripheral device via the embedded web serverin the step S26. In one embodiment, the email may be sent to a systemadministrator to be forwarded to the peripheral device. This allowsadditional screening to address potential security concerns.

[0054] In one embodiment, a device configuration plug in becomes part ofthe browser. The plug in takes the configuration data from the vendorweb site and configures the peripheral. In one embodiment, SNMP is usedto configure PML objects to configure the peripheral.

[0055] For example, the maintainer may need to be aware of an upcomingshortfall of media or pigmentation or marking material and thus may wantto have the re-ordering process start when the supply falls to apredetermined level. Alternatively, the maintainer may prefer to havethe re-ordering process initiate when the consumable is essentiallydepleted. Additionally, the maintainer may want to pool consumableorders over a group of peripherals or over time. The maintainer may alsowant to coordinate maintenance of local stocks of consumables withchanges in consumption, and may opt to replace some consumables thatwould not otherwise be replaced when other consumables requirereplacement (e.g., replace a low toner cartridge of one color whenanother toner cartridge is exhausted) in order to optimize laborcontent.

[0056] The process P2 then ends.

[0057]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps in carrying out aprocess P3 for setting preferences for resellers and for identifyingpurchasers for consumables and service for the devices that werediscovered in the process P1 of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. The process P3 begins in a step S31.

[0058] Optionally, the process P3 may be initiated by the vendor website sending an email to the purchase authorizer in the step S31 usingthe email address obtained in the step S17 of the process P1. The emailmay include information specific to the group of devices identified asbeing associated with that purchase authorizer and maintainer in thestep S18 of the process P1.

[0059] Alternatively, the process P3 may be initiated by the purchaseauthorizer for consumables for the peripheral devices. In either case,the purchase authorizer launches a web browser to interact with thevendor web site in a step S32. In one embodiment, the purchaseauthorizer launches the web browser using a URL contained in the emailmessage received by the maintainer in the step S31. In one embodiment,the URL is specific to the list of peripheral devices associated withthe purchase authorizer.

[0060] In a step S33, the purchase authorizer identifies purchasersassociated with the group of peripheral devices identified in theprocess P1. In one embodiment, the purchase authorizer provides emailaddresses for the purchasers, and these may be stored in a memoryassociated with the vendor web site.

[0061] In a step S34, the purchase authorizer identifies preferredresellers of consumables for the peripheral devices, and these may bestored in a memory associated with the vendor web site.

[0062] The process P3 then ends.

[0063]FIG. 5 is a simplified flow chart of a process P4 for settinginventory parameters for the group or groups of peripheral devicesidentified in the steps S15 and S16 of the process P1 of FIG. 2, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process P4begins in a step S41.

[0064] Optionally, the process P4 may be initiated by the vendor website sending an email to the purchaser in the step S41 using the emailaddress obtained in the step S17 of the process P1. The email mayinclude information specific to the group of devices identified as beingassociated with that maintainer in the step S33 of the process P3.

[0065] Alternatively, the process P4 may be initiated by the purchaserfor consumables for the peripheral devices. In either case, thepurchaser launches a web browser to interact with the vendor web site ina step S42. In one embodiment, the purchaser launches the web browserusing a URL contained in the email message received by the purchaser inthe step S41. In one embodiment, the URL is specific to the list ofperipheral devices associated with the purchaser.

[0066] In a step S43, the purchaser may set group order thresholdsettings, and these may be stored in a memory associated with the vendorweb site. This may be used to combine orders to service needs for agroup of peripheral devices using a local store of consumables as abuffer.

[0067] In a step S44, the purchaser may set current inventory levels forthe local store of consumables, and these may be stored in a memoryassociated with the vendor web site.

[0068] In a step S45, the purchaser sets minimum inventory order triggerthresholds, and these may be stored in a memory associated with thevendor web site.

[0069] In a step S46, the purchaser sets maximum target inventorylevels, and these may be stored in a memory associated with the vendorweb site.

[0070] In a step S47, the purchaser sets order notification settings,and these may be stored in a memory associated with the vendor web site.

[0071] The process P4 then ends.

[0072]FIG. 6 is a simplified flowchart of a process P5 for configuring aperipheral device, such as a hard copy output engine, using theinformation collected via the processes P1 through P4 of FIGS. 2 through5, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] In one embodiment, the data collected by the processes P1 throughP4 are used to derive XML configuration data in a step S51.

[0074] These data are then emailed from the vendor web site to thenetwork 10 in a step S52. In one embodiment, the data are emaileddirectly to the embedded web server 26 of the hard copy output engine 14or other peripheral device in the step S52.

[0075] In one embodiment, the data are emailed to a responsible partyfor review in the step S52. In this embodiment, the data are forwarded,for example via email, to the embedded web server 26 after review by theresponsible party in an optional step S53.

[0076] In a step S54, the XML configuration data interact with theembedded web server 26 to set thresholds in the peripheral device, suchas the hard copy output engine 14.

[0077] In one embodiment, the data collected by the processes P1 throughP4 are used to derive XML configuration data that are then emailed tothe network 10 in the step S52. In one embodiment, a CGI script is usedto convey the configuration data.

[0078] The process P5 then ends.

[0079] While the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 through 6 assume that separateindividuals fill the roles of MIS manager, maintainer, purchaseauthorizer and purchaser, it will be appreciated that some or all ofthese roles may be played by one or more persons, or by more or fewerpersons. It will also be appreciated that many of the acts of FIGS. 2through 6 need not occur in the order in which they are described andmay take place contemporaneously.

[0080] Benefits include allowing the user to configure the hard copyoutput engine for ease of ordering and maintaining supplies ofconsumables. This is accomplished without requiring the user to addsoftware modules or hardware to the network 10. Additionally, thefirewall 19 maintains integrity of the system 10.

[0081] The protection sought is not to be limited to the disclosedembodiments, which are given by way of example only, but instead is tobe limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining, by a processorwithin a peripheral device, that an amount of a consumable associatedwith the peripheral device has decreased below a predeterminedthreshold; and transmitting an email from the peripheral device to orderadditional supplies of the consumable.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereintransmitting comprises transmitting the email to a vendor web siteacross a firewall.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmittingcomprises transmitting the email to a personal computer associated withthe peripheral device, and further comprising transmitting a secondemail from the personal computer to a vendor web site across a firewall.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises a hardcopy output engine and determining comprises determining when a tonerlevel in the hard copy output engine has decreased below a toner lowthreshold.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral devicecomprises a hard copy output engine, and further comprising:determining, by the processor within the hard copy output engine, when apredetermined work threshold has been reached; and transmitting an emailto request periodic service in response to determining.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises a hard copy outputengine and the processor comprises an embedded web server, and furthercomprising: determining, by the web server, when a predetermined workthreshold has been reached; and transmitting an email to requestperiodic service in response to determining.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the peripheral device comprises a hard copy output engine andthe processor comprises an embedded web server, wherein determiningcomprises determining when a toner level in a hard copy output enginehas decreased below a toner low threshold and wherein transmittingcomprises transmitting the email to a vendor web site across a firewall.8. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium havingcomputer readable code embodied therein that is configured to cause aprocessor contained in a peripheral device to: determine that an amountof a consumable associated with the peripheral device has decreasedbelow a predetermined threshold; and transmit an email from theperipheral device to order additional supplies of the consumable.
 9. Thearticle of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the computer readable codeconfigured to cause the processor contained in the peripheral device totransmit the email comprises computer readable code configured to causethe processor contained in the peripheral device to transmit the emailto a vendor web site across a firewall.
 10. The article of manufactureof claim 8, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause theprocessor contained in the peripheral device to transmit comprisescomputer readable code configured to cause the processor contained inthe peripheral device to transmit the email to a personal computerassociated with the peripheral device for retransmission from thepersonal computer to a vendor web site across a firewall.
 11. Thearticle of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the peripheral devicecomprises a hard copy output engine and wherein the computer readablecode configured to cause the processor contained in the peripheraldevice to determine comprises computer readable code configured to causethe processor contained in the peripheral device to determine when atoner level in the hard copy output engine has decreased below a tonerlow threshold.
 12. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein theperipheral device comprises a hard copy output engine, and wherein thecomputer readable code configured to cause the processor contained inthe peripheral device to determine comprises computer readable codeconfigured to cause the processor contained in the hard copy outputengine to determine when a predetermined work threshold has been reachedand the computer readable code configured to cause the processorcontained in the peripheral device to transmit comprises computerreadable code configured to cause the processor contained in the hardcopy output engine to transmit an email to request periodic service inresponse to reaching the predetermined work threshold.
 13. The articleof manufacture of claim 8, wherein the peripheral device comprises ahard copy output engine and the processor comprises an embedded webserver and further comprising computer readable code configured to causethe embedded web server to: determine when a predetermined workthreshold has been reached; and transmit an email to request periodicservice in response to reaching the predetermined work threshold. 14.The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the peripheral devicecomprises a hard copy output engine and the processor comprises anembedded web server and wherein the computer readable code configured tocause the processor contained in the peripheral device to determinecomprises computer readable code configured to cause the embedded webserver to determine when a toner level in a hard copy output engine hasdecreased below a toner low threshold and wherein the computer readablecode configured to cause the processor contained in the peripheraldevice to transmit comprises computer readable code configured to causethe embedded web server to transmit the email to a vendor web siteacross a firewall.
 15. A computer implemented control system for a hardcopy output engine, the system comprising: memory configured to store asoftware module; and processing circuitry configured to employ thesoftware module to: determine that an amount of a consumable associatedwith a peripheral device has decreased below a predetermined threshold;and transmit an email from the peripheral device to order additionalsupplies of the consumable.
 16. The computer implemented control systemof claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured toemploy the software module to: determine that an amount of a consumableassociated with the peripheral device has decreased below apredetermined threshold; and transmit an email from the peripheraldevice to order additional supplies of the consumable.
 17. The computerimplemented control system of claim 15, wherein the peripheral devicecomprises a hard copy output engine and wherein the processing circuitryand memory together comprise an embedded web server, and the embeddedweb server is further configured to: determine when a toner level in thehard copy output engine has decreased below a toner low threshold; andtransmit an email across a firewall to a vendor web site to orderadditional toner in response to determining.
 18. The computerimplemented control system of claim 15, wherein the peripheral devicecomprises a hard copy output engine and wherein the processing circuitryand memory together comprise an embedded web server, and the embeddedweb server is further configured to transmit the email to a personalcomputer associated with the peripheral device for retransmission fromthe personal computer to a vendor web site across a firewall.
 19. Thecomputer implemented control system of claim 15, wherein the peripheraldevice is chosen from a group consisting of: facsimile machines,photocopiers and printers and wherein the processing circuitry andmemory together comprise an embedded web server.
 20. The computerimplemented control system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitryis further configured to employ the software module to: determine when apredetermined work threshold has been reached; and transmit an email torequest periodic service in response to reaching the predetermined workthreshold.
 21. A computer instruction signal embodied in a carrier wavecarrying instructions that when executed by a processor cause theprocessor to: determine that an amount of a consumable associated withthe peripheral device has decreased below a predetermined threshold; andtransmit an email from the peripheral device to order additionalsupplies of the consumable.
 22. The computer instruction signal of claim21, wherein the computer instruction signal configured to cause theprocessor contained in the peripheral device to transmit the emailcomprises a computer instruction signal configured to cause theprocessor contained in the peripheral device to transmit the email to avendor web site across a firewall.
 23. The computer instruction signalof claim 21, wherein the computer instruction signal configured to causethe processor contained in the peripheral device to transmit comprises acomputer instruction signal configured to cause the processor containedin the peripheral device to transmit the email to a personal computerassociated with the peripheral device for retransmission from thepersonal computer to a vendor web site across a firewall.
 24. Thecomputer instruction signal of claim 21, wherein the peripheral devicecomprises a hard copy output engine and wherein the computer instructionsignal configured to cause the processor contained in the peripheraldevice to determine comprises a computer instruction signal configuredto cause the processor contained in the peripheral device to determinewhen a toner level in the hard copy output engine has decreased below atoner low threshold.
 25. The computer instruction signal of claim 21,wherein the peripheral device comprises a hard copy output engine, andwherein the computer instruction signal configured to cause theprocessor contained in the peripheral device to determine comprises acomputer instruction signal configured to cause the processor containedin the hard copy output engine to determine when a predetermined workthreshold has been reached and the computer instruction signalconfigured to cause the processor contained in the peripheral device totransmit comprises a computer instruction signal configured to cause theprocessor contained in the hard copy output engine to transmit an emailto request periodic service in response to reaching the predeterminedwork threshold.
 26. The computer instruction signal of claim 21, whereinthe peripheral device comprises a hard copy output engine and theprocessor comprises an embedded web server and further comprising acomputer instruction signal configured to cause the embedded web serverto: determine when a predetermined work threshold has been reached; andtransmit an email to request periodic service in response to reachingthe predetermined work threshold.
 27. The computer instruction signal ofclaim 21, wherein the peripheral device comprises a hard copy outputengine and the processor comprises an embedded web server and whereinthe computer instruction signal configured to cause the processorcontained in the peripheral device to determine comprises a computerinstruction signal configured to cause the embedded web server todetermine when a toner level in a hard copy output engine has decreasedbelow a toner low threshold and wherein the computer instruction signalconfigured to cause the processor contained in the peripheral device totransmit comprises a computer instruction signal configured to cause theembedded web server to transmit the email to a vendor web site across afirewall.